How to Set Up Call Forwarding: iPhone, Android, Carrier Codes & Business Phone Systems

Call forwarding lets you redirect incoming calls from one phone number to another—whether you're routing after-hours calls, managing overflow, or connecting your existing number to an AI answering workflow. This guide covers everything you need to know: current iPhone and Android steps, carrier star codes for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile (including conditional forwarding), and how to safely set forwarding inside business phone platforms.

#Before You Start

Before diving into device or carrier steps, a few things to sort out first:

What number are you forwarding from? A mobile line, a desk phone or landline, a business main number, or an auto attendant/call queue each have different setup paths.

What type of forwarding do you need?

• Always forward (unconditional): Every call gets redirected, no matter what.
• Conditional call forwarding: Calls only redirect when you're busy, don't answer, or are unreachable.

Other things to confirm:

• If you're forwarding a mobile phone, make sure you're in cellular coverage when setting it up — some carriers require it.
• If you're working with a business phone platform, confirm you have admin access (or know who does).

#How to Set Up Call Forwarding on iPhone

#Step-by-Step (Current iOS)

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apps → Phone.
3. Tap Call Forwarding → toggle Call Forwarding On.
4. If you have Dual SIM, select the line you want to forward.
5. Tap Forward To, enter your destination number, then tap Back to save.

When call forwarding is active, iPhone displays a call forwarding icon in the status bar so you always know it's on.

#Important Caveats

• iPhone's built-in call forwarding (via Settings) works on GSM networks. If your carrier runs on a CDMA network, you'll need to contact your carrier directly to set it up.
• You must be within cellular range when enabling forwarding — if you're out of coverage, the setting won't take effect.
• Conditional call forwarding (busy, no answer, unreachable) is managed at the carrier level, not through the iPhone Settings UI. You'll need star codes or a call to your carrier for those.

#How to Disable Call Forwarding on iPhone

Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Call Forwarding and toggle it off.

Heads up: If calls still seem to be forwarding after you turn it off, carrier-side conditional forwarding may still be active. Use the star codes in the section below or contact your carrier to clear it.

#How to Set Up Call Forwarding on Android

Android menus vary by device brand and Android version — the setting may live under Calls, Calling accounts, or Supplementary services depending on your phone.

#Pixel / Stock Android

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the Menu (three dots) → Settings.
3. Tap Calls → Call forwarding.
4. Tap Always forward.
5. Enter your destination number → tap TURN ON.

To disable: Phone app → Settings → Calls → Call forwarding → Always forward → TURN OFF.

If forwarding is already active and you need to change the destination number, edit the number and tap UPDATE.

#Samsung Galaxy

1. Open the Phone app → tap More options (three dots) → Settings.
2. Tap Supplementary services → Call forwarding.
3. Choose your forwarding type:
   • Always forward
   • Forward when busy
   • Forward when unanswered
   • Forward when unreachable
4. Enter your destination number → tap Enable.

To disable on Samsung: Open the forwarding type you enabled → tap Disable.

#Star Codes for Call Forwarding

Star codes (also called MMI codes or carrier short codes) let you enable or cancel call forwarding at the carrier network level — bypassing your phone's UI entirely. These are especially useful when:

• Your phone doesn't show call forwarding settings in the menu
• You need conditional call forwarding (busy, no answer, unreachable) that your carrier manages separately

#How to Use Star Codes

1. Open your phone's dialer.
2. Dial the code exactly as shown, including * and #.
3. Enter your destination number as required:
   • Most US carriers require 10 digits (area code + number)
   • Some codes require 11 digits starting with 1 (e.g., 1 + PhoneNumber)
4. Tap Call and wait for a confirmation tone or message.

#Things to Know Before You Dial

• Some carriers don't support forwarding to international numbers.
• Destination number format matters — using the wrong digit count will often return an error.
• Star codes are country-specific. US codes won't necessarily work while roaming internationally.

#Carrier Cheat Sheet: Verizon, AT&T & T-Mobile Forwarding Codes

The table below includes only codes from official carrier documentation. Blank fields (—) mean no code has been published for that condition.

#Carrier-Specific Notes

Verizon Wireless: Forwarding is US-only, 10-digit destinations required. You cannot set up forwarding outside Verizon coverage or while traveling internationally — configure it before you leave.

AT&T Wireless: You can only change call forwarding from your wireless phone itself (no online management). Call forwarding overrides wireless voicemail, and if the forwarding destination is busy, callers may get a busy signal.

T-Mobile Wireless: No international forwarding. Accepts 10–11 digit destinations. Roaming behavior depends on the host network. T-Mobile also publishes a delay-change code if you need to adjust how long your phone rings before forwarding.

#Business Phone Systems & VoIP / PBX

If you use a hosted business phone system — like RingCentral, Zoom Phone, or 8x8 — the most reliable approach is to configure forwarding inside the platform's call handling or routing rules, not directly on individual handsets. Handset-level forwarding can override platform rules and create hard-to-diagnose call loops.

#General Setup Pattern (Works Across Most Platforms)

1. Identify what you're forwarding: A user/extension, the main number/auto attendant, or a call queue/hunt group.
2. Set your hours and schedules first — work hours vs. after-hours — then configure routing for each time block separately.
3. Choose ring behavior: Ring in order (sequential) or ring everyone at once (simultaneous), and how long to ring before treating it as missed.
4. Enter your destination as an external number (or create an external contact entry if your system uses a directory).
5. Save and test each scenario — business hours, closed hours, busy signal, and no-answer handling.

#Which Object Should You Forward?

Forwarding a personal extension is the most common scenario for individuals. Use the user's call handling settings to forward missed or after-hours calls to your external destination.

Forwarding a main company number requires changing routing at the main-number layer — not at a single user's extension. Forwarding one user when you meant to forward the main number means callers will still hit your menus and queues until they reach that person.

Forwarding an auto attendant or call queue means adjusting overflow/forwarding rules on that object specifically, and verifying it doesn't accidentally loop back upstream.

#Avoiding Forwarding Loops

A call loop occurs when forwarding rules send a call back and forth indefinitely — preventing it from reaching voicemail and potentially causing fast busy signals or service outages.

To avoid loops:

• Use one authoritative source for forwarding rules. Prefer the admin portal over desk-phone local settings.
• Don't forward a ring group, queue, or auto attendant to a destination that eventually routes back to the original object.
• Be cautious with forwarding set directly on a physical desk phone — desk phone forwarding can override admin console settings and should be used sparingly.

#Platform Notes

RingCentral: Supports configuring incoming call handling with separate work/after-hours schedules, sequential or simultaneous ring order, and missed-call actions including forwarding to an external number, extension, queue, or IVR menu.

Zoom Phone: Allows adding an external phone number under Call Handling for Business or Closed Hours. Includes an optional "Require to press 1 before connecting" setting. Note: forwarding to an external number requires the user to have a DID (Direct Inward Dial) number assigned — users with only an internal extension cannot forward externally.

8x8: Call forwarding rules can be configured by admins or users, with conditions including internet-down failover, busy, or no-answer. Supports both schedule-based rules and sequential vs. simultaneous ringing.

#Quick Glossary

• PBX (Private Branch Exchange): A business phone system managing inbound/outbound calls and internal routing.
• DID (Direct Inward Dialing): A service that lets a specific phone number ring directly to one person or extension inside a business.
• Extension: A short internal number assigned to a person, team, or department.
• Hunt group: Rings a defined set of users in sequence or simultaneously when a group number is called.
• Auto attendant: A virtual receptionist that routes callers through menu options.

#Testing Your Call Forwarding Setup

Before relying on any forwarding configuration, test it thoroughly. Use a phone that isn't on the same line for all tests.

1. Confirm the destination number is active and voice-capable. Not all numbers can receive forwarded calls (some carriers restrict VoIP destinations).
2. Always-forward test: Enable always forward, call the original number, and confirm the original phone does not ring and that the destination receives the call.
3. No-answer test: Call the number and let it ring without answering. Confirm it forwards after the configured number of rings.
4. Busy test: Put the original line on an active call, then call it again from another phone. Confirm busy-forwarding behavior works as expected.
5. Unreachable test: Turn the phone off or enable airplane mode, then call it. Confirm not-reachable forwarding works. (Not all carriers publish a discrete unreachable mode — check your carrier's documentation.)
6. Disable test: Turn forwarding off and confirm calls ring the original phone normally.
7. Business systems: If you have scheduled routing, test both business hours and closed hours separately.

#Troubleshooting

#FAQ

Does call forwarding also forward text messages? No. Call forwarding applies to voice calls only, not SMS.

Can I forward calls to an international number? Most major US carriers restrict this. Verizon, AT&T wireless, and T-Mobile all publish "no international forwarding" limitations in their documentation.

Will my phone show an indicator when forwarding is on? iPhone shows a call forwarding icon in the status bar. Most Android devices also display a notification bar icon when forwarding is active, though this varies by device.

Can I still make outgoing calls while forwarding is on? Yes. AT&T confirms you can continue making outgoing calls while call forwarding is active.

I'm on Zoom Phone — why can't I forward calls externally? Zoom requires users to have a DID (Direct Inward Dial) number assigned. Users with only an internal extension and no DID cannot forward calls to external numbers.

What's the difference between always forward and conditional forwarding? Always forward redirects every call immediately — your phone won't ring at all. Conditional forwarding only kicks in under specific conditions (busy, no answer, unreachable), letting you answer calls normally when you're available.

#Related TensorCall pages

• AI Phone Answering Service for Service Businesses
• AI Receptionist for Service Businesses
• After-Hours Answering Service for Service Businesses
• Overflow Call Handling for Service Businesses

#Using Call Forwarding with TensorCall

Once your call forwarding is configured, TensorCall connects to your existing phone number without requiring your callers to dial anything new. Calls forwarded to your TensorCall number are handled by your AI answering workflow — so whether forwarding activates after hours, when you're busy, or always, TensorCall picks up where your phone leaves off.

After your forwarding is live, a few things worth setting up inside TensorCall:

• Business hours and after-hours routing — so TensorCall behaves differently during open vs. closed times
• Routing destinations — directing calls to sales, support, or other workflows based on intent
• Call logs, summaries, and transcripts — confirming end-to-end call quality and handoff accuracy after your first real test calls

If you haven't set up your TensorCall number yet, you'll need it before completing the forwarding setup — it's the 10-digit US number (or +1XXXXXXXXXX in E.164 format) that you'll enter as the forwarding destination in any of the steps above.

For the most current carrier documentation, refer to Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile support pages directly, as star codes and forwarding restrictions can change.